Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-21
THE MISSOURI RIVER.
Its Rise Causes Great
Damage.
PEOPLE PERCHED IN TREES.
Rioting Polish Catholics Resort to
Violence in Favor Of a De-
posed Parish Priest.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
BISMARCK, March 20--The Missouri
river has risen a foot here to-day. The
speed Of the current is terrific, and the
situation generally grows worse. This
rise is equal to twenty feet in the upper
river, the water here being spread over
six miles of country. Six inches of snow
fell yesterday, and this will add to the
food as soon as the weather grows
warmer again. The heroes of the day
are the members Of the rescuing party
who went into the lowlnnds yesterday
aud saved the lives of seven persons who
were perched on the tops of houses and
trees. A dispatch from Fort Lincoln says
that people can be seen standing on hay.
stacks and trees, and if not soon rescued
will perish with the food. Many claim
that the country opposite the fort con.
tained many inhabitants who are still in
great danger. Some reports have also
come from the Painted Woods. The re.
port is denied that Supt. Graham,
of the Northern Pacific, was drowned.
He telegraphed he would come on FRI
day evening, but failed. The Sibley
Island gorge remains firm, and if in the
present state of affairs it continues one
week, the permanent channel will be
out across the country two miles east of
tbe old bed of the mission. Huge cakes
of ice are coming down the river and
landing on the meadow land of the set
tiers. 1t is impossible now to repair
the Northern Pacific trestle on account
of the flowing ice. The terrific rapidity
of the rise of the river at the Painted
Woods is indicated by the experience of
two families who saw the food in the
distance and attempted to pack off their
household goods preparatory to moving
back from the stream to the Buttes.
The houses foated on the highest point
of the lowlands before the families were
ready to start and the water was within
six feet of their houses. There
were five children in the party, and be-
fore the buttes could be reached the
food overlook them aud left. The last
part of the journey was made through
three feet OF water. One of the children
narrowly escaped drowning. Another
train.load of Eastern passengers which
arrived to-day will be compelled to re-
main here until it is possible to cross the
Missouri. 1t is believed the Northern
Pacific Company will be able to establish
q transfer line Of boats tomorrow.
ST. PAUL, March 20.-The Pioneer
Press correspondent at Mandan tele.
graphs from Bismarck that the reported
inundntion of Mandan is utterly false.
No huo k1o 81
the Missouri or Heart rivers. but anxiety
prevails among the people of Mandan
for the poor inhabitants living on the
fats near Bismarck. Business is going
on as usual. The damage has been done
to the trestle.work of the bridge and the
track two miles east of Mandan. A
party will cross the submerged lowlands
on the ice tomorrow.
A Bismarck special to the Pioneer
Press says, the storm cleared away this
morning, but the river has risen slowly
all day, and is still rising tonight. an
inch an hour. Having passed the high
water mark of the memorable food of
1881. all the low lands are now inun.
dated. The only houses flooded on the
Bismarck side are few squatters'
shocks. Bismarck is 40 feet above
the water. Some 200 emigrants, west
bound, are delayed here. From the
bluffs one can see huge cakes of ice on
the streets of Mandan and the water
extends to near the Inter Ocean Hotel.
The only method of communication
between the towns is via Cheyenne and
Ogden. The Boston syndicate property,
including q Touring mill and some fifty
residences, the elevator, shops,
and everything south of the
track is submerged. The upper
part of the river has not yet broken
Loose ice began running again this morn
ing. Indications are that the Fort Bu-
ford rise is beginning TO be felt. All
boats are still safe at the Northern Pa
-cifc warehouse, the river is so wide
that the ice no longer crowds them.
Supt. Odell received kilograms from the
Western Division of the road. via st.
Paul, saying that trains are running
through to Mandan from Portland. One
of the boats here will steam up as soon
as the ice stops running. and will be
used as passenger transfer.